Recommend me a family board game!

[Zorra]

When I was little, we had a board game every Christmas for the whole family. Now my DS is 3 I'd like to reinstate the tradition. It has to be something he can enjoy (even with lots of help) - everyone else on Xmas day will be grown up (me, parents, DB and SIL) so hopefully something we can all play together which isn't too boring for the adults. Any inspiration appreciated!

[Ragwort]

Ludo, Sorry, Junior Monopoly - something like that?

We play a lot of board games and DH has kept all his from childhood, some of them are incredibly tedious .

On no account get Mousetrap - the most boring, pointless game ever - I can still remember one Christmas when it took over two hours just to set up and I had to sit there looking as though I was enjoying myself !

[Taffraid]

Well at 3 its limited. Mine both liked Snakes and Ladders at that age, and needed help.

Monoploy, Scrabble, Bananagrams, Articulate, Pictionary all great games but he is too young.

Big puzzles are good.

If you want 3 -5 yo games, the best ones IMO are the Orchard ones but they aren't much fun for adults

THE best game for adults and that age DC IMO is Jenga. DD was ace at it age 3. [hgrin] She's still fearless!

[Tommy]

Buckaroo! always great fun
Misfits is fun for younger ones
Kerplunk
Operation

Last year we bought one called "Quelf" which I'd never heard of - it is hilarious - have been recommending it to everyone

[WeAllHaveWings]

Snakes and ladders, Frustation (same/better than Ludo) or card games (snap/memory)

ds(8) played Frustration at that age (and we still play with his elderly grandparents at weekends). The game itself is fairly boring simple, but its the overly competitive people that make it fun - the main objective of ds's game is to send grandpa's pieces back home!

[Zorra]

Ooh, will have a look at some of those, thanks :) I have a feeling we might need a game for when DS is up then something else for after he goes to bed...

[QuickLookBusy]

Yes, would second Frustration and Buckeroo for a three year old.

[jojane]

We got children's charades last year and the kids love it

[Lilymaid]

A good game for 3 year olds is Mousie Mousie though the adults would get bored after a while!

[Allalonenow]

Sorry would be good for a three year old.

[DorisIsWaiting]

My dsis bought dd3 (age3) Sturdy Birdy Game from fat brain toy co. It's not strictly a board game but is loads of fun (and I imagine for adults after a couple of glasses of wine! here If not I second the orchatrd toys idea 3 really is too young for anything more challenging. DD3 is just getting inro guesswho but only with help...

[WildRumpus]

Not a board game but our kids (and all their friends) love Jolly Octopus. It's fairly quick too. Depending on the 3 year old even snakes and ladders can drag a bit. Our kids are also obsessed by a game called Cariboo too. Have played since age of 3. Once they get to about 5 Ludo, draughts etc are fun.

[ChiefOwl]

We buy a new board game every year :)

Ds is 4 he likes any orchard games, pop up pirate, don't wake dad and guess who.

[WorraLiberty]

Don't Wake Dad is a good board game for a 3yr old.

[WorraLiberty]

Bugger! Didn't spot the last part of your post Chief

[Skivvytomany]

Hungry hippos, I get a bit competitive though. Oops

[fraktion]

Depending on how verbal he is 'Articulate' is a good laugh and you can make special kiddie cards with pictures instead of the standard cards with words and varying categories.

[Viviennemary]

Guess who is quite good if it's still going. Also years and years ago I knew some children who had a game with little plastic apples that you hung on trees made of card. They loved that. Can't remember much else about it.

[Jcee]

The house that jack built is a good one for 3 year olds - my niece loves it but it can get a bit tedious for adults!

[AFingerofFudge]

Apples to Apples either the junior or normal version is brilliant for all the family, even my 3 year old can get involved.
Other good ones for everyone including him are Dobble or Pictureka (although made a bit easier for him)
Others that are brilliant for the younger ones but I get bored are Zingo, Candyland or most ofthe orchard toys ones.

Two fab ones for older kids and adults while I'm here (board game addicts in this family) are the Really Nasty Horse Racing Game or Carcasonne

[Floralnomad]

I used to like the beetle drive game , thy do big plastic ones . My DCs hated it . Agree with Frustration and for older ones scrabble and Cluedo . We also have Disney trivial pursuits which is good cos they have different questions depending on ability so everyone can play. For two people Othello is great . Kerplunk drove me mad as did Operation .

[Floralnomad]

Forgot , what about that elephant game ,where it blows butterflies out of its trunk and you have to catch them in a net , kids love it - adults not so much.

[silverfrog]

we have a couple of lovely cooperative games - Hop.hop. hop! by djeco, where you have to rescue the sheep before the bridge collapses, and Bravo Piepino! whereyou have to get some birds back to their nest.

whilenot exactly riveting for adults, they are playable enough, and should be really enjoyed by a 3 year old.

[silverfrog]

oh, and pass the bomb/pass the bomb junior are great too.

[QuickLookBusy]

Yes, Pass The Bomb is very good, all the family can play and it gets very funny.

especially if you've had a few xmas drinks

[quirrelquarrel]

Scotland Yard for when he's a bit bigger


We love Abalone which is for two people. Sooo addictive and kids love it too.
And Quirkle.